What Say You?
September 10, 2023 9 Comments
“Regrettable errors” is a deplorable defense in the mishandling of sexual abuse in a church. But that was the response of a Bishop who failed to act quickly on allegations against a lay minister.
As reported by Kathryn Post on Sept. 30, 2022, “A long-awaited third-party report on sexual abuse reveals that leaders in an Anglican Church in North America diocese failed to act on tips about sexual misconduct and abuse and defended an alleged abuser as innocent while questioning reported survivors’ credibility.”
As you’ll learn, Bishop Stewart Ruch of the Upper Midwest Diocese had made a “secret appeal “to ACNA’s seven-member Provincial Tribunal to call off the investigation. This deliberate act began a power struggle with Foley Beach, primate and archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America.
The following reports by Kathryn Post and the abuse survivor’s accounts that include grooming are disturbing to read and more so for me. I knew the leaders – the “shepherds” – involved in the “regrettable errors”.
I attended the Church of the Resurrection for many years. Stewart Ruch became pastor of “Rez” while the church gathered in the auditorium of Glenbard West High School before moving to Wheaton. I lived around the corner from Stewart and Kathryn. I was in small group with Eirik Olsen and Randy York, now priests in Bishop’s Ruch’s close-knit diocese. My thoughts follow the reports.
How would you assess the handling of the sexual abuse situation, the attempted cover up, and the ensuing power struggle from the following reports? Is Bishop Ruch’s paltry mea culpa and a claim of spiritual attack a CYA defense designed to protect himself from discredit and from being discharged from a coveted position? What Say You?
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Kathryn Post of Religion News Service in her April 29, 2022report ACNA Bishop, Alleging ‘Spiritual Attack,’ Makes Appeal for His Return:
“(RNS) — In July 2021 Stewart Ruch III, bishop of the Anglican Church in North America’s Upper Midwest Diocese, went on leave after making what he called “regrettable errors” in handling cases of abuse in the diocese.
By that time, many who attended the roughly 30 churches in Ruch’s diocese knew that the missteps Ruch was referring to had to do with his delay in informing them of the accusations against Mark Rivera, a volunteer leader at Christ Our Light Anglican, an Upper Midwest Diocese church in Big Rock, Illinois.”
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What had happened was this, according to Bishop Stewart’s Letter Regarding Devastating Situation in Diocese of May 4, 2021.
“Two years ago, on May 20, 2019, Mark Rivera, a volunteer lay leader (with the title of Catechist) at Christ Our Light in Big Rock, Illinois, was accused of a sexual offense against a minor. Christ Our Light was part of the Greenhouse Missionary Society, which is within our diocese. When Greenhouse leadership learned of this accusation, Mark was immediately removed from his position as Catechist. On June 10, 2019, Mark was arrested and jailed in Kane County.”
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Fast forward. A March 6, 2023 article by Kathryn Post in Religious News Service:
“(RNS) — Mark Rivera, a former lay pastor in a conservative Anglican denomination who was convicted in December of felony child sexual abuse and assault, was sentenced on Monday afternoon (March 6) to 15 years in the department of corrections.
Judge John Barsanti of Illinois’ 16th Judicial Circuit Court in Kane County granted Rivera the minimum sentences for his crimes. The judge earlier found Rivera guilty of two counts of predatory sexual assault of a victim under 13 years old (a Class X felony) and three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim under 13 (a Class 2 felony). Rivera will get credit for time already served in jail and spent under electronic monitoring and will be eligible for parole before completing his full sentence.”
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July 19, 2021, an article by Kathryn Post on Ministry Watch website:
The mother says leaders in the Anglican Church in North America pressured her not to report her daughter’s abuse allegations
“In May 2019, Cherin’s 9-year-old daughter told her that she had been abused by [Mark] Rivera. She reported the alleged abuse to [Rev. Rand] York, believing that her great uncle and the others in church leadership would protect her daughter.
According to Cherin, who asked that her last name not be used in order to protect her daughter’s identity, church leaders not only failed to report the allegations to the police or to the Department of Children and Family Services, but some also pressured her not to go to the police.
Despite this pressure, Cherin reported the alleged abuse to the police. In June 2019 Rivera was arrested and later charged with felony child sexual assault and abuse. He is currently out on bond.
In November 2020, Rivera’s neighbor, Joanna Rudenborg, reported to the Kane County Sheriff’s office that Rivera had raped her twice between 2018 and 2020. The Kane County Sheriff’s office would not comment beyond saying there is an ongoing investigation. Rivera’s lawyer did not respond for comment. (Emphasis mine.)
Also reported here:
In ACNA Abuse Case, Mother of Alleged Victim Says Church Urged Silence (julieroys.com)
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July 28, 2021, an article by Kathryn Post on Ministry Watch website:
Ten people in all have come forward with allegations of sexual abuse against a volunteer leader in the Anglican Church in North America.
“Church leaders and members in the Diocese of the Upper Midwest, of the Anglican Church in North America, trusted Rivera’s spiritual authority. According to reports from former Christ Our Light Anglican Church parishioners, they dismissed his frequent physical affection — his habit of kissing young girls on the cheek or inviting teenagers to sit on his lap — as “just Mark being Mark.””
After 9-year-old child told her mother that Rivera had abused her, “nine additional people have made allegations of abuse by Rivera, including child sexual abuse, grooming, rape, and assault, and Rivera has been charged with felony child sexual assault and abuse of the 9-year-old. To date, the diocese has publicly acknowledged only some of the allegations, and according to abuse prevention advocates, has downplayed the access he had to children and others while in church leadership.”(Emphasis mine.)
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April 29, 2022, article by Kathryn Post for Religious News Service:
““Both my diocese and the ACNA got hit this summer by a vicious spiritual attack of the enemy,” Ruch wrote to the denomination’s top official, Archbishop Foley Beach, on Jan. 14. “I believe this is the case because both entities are doing robust Gospel work, and Satan hates us.”
“I have decided to come off of my voluntary and temporary leave of absence effective March 7, 2022,” Ruch announced to Beach. “I believe my calling as a bishop who is responsible for leading and pastoring my diocese requires me to return to my work of service, preaching and oversight.”
The ongoing investigative process, he further said, was neither “canonical or, more importantly, biblical.”
Despite an advising chancellor and others expressing solidarity with Ruch through some ecclesiastical mumbo-jumbo, “others say that Ruch and other leaders have made the situation worse by defending the church instead of attending to Rivera’s alleged victims.” (Emphasis mine.)
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“A long-awaited third-party report on sexual abuse reveals that leaders in an Anglican Church in North America diocese failed to act on tips about sexual misconduct and abuse and defended an alleged abuser as innocent while questioning reported survivors’ credibility.
The probe into events in the Upper Midwest Diocese, conducted by the investigative firm Husch Blackwell, also found that an ACNA priest did not report abuse by a lay pastor to the Department of Child and Family Services, claiming a church lawyer told him he was exempt from mandatory reporting laws. It also found that Bishop Stewart Ruch III and others allowed a church volunteer to have contact with teenagers after he had lost his teaching job for inappropriate behavior with students.” (Emphasis mine.)
Also reported here:
Third-Party Report Details ACNA Leaders’ Inaction on Sexual Abuse Allegations – MinistryWatch
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A November 17, 2022 article by Kathryn Post for Religious News Service:
Returning from self-imposed hiatus, ACNA Bishop Stewart Ruch works to regain trust
“After 16 months of a self-imposed hiatus after admitting to mishandling sexual abuse allegations in his diocese in Wheaton, Illinois, Bishop Stewart Ruch — a charismatic, controversial figure in the Anglican Church in North America — is taking steps to revive trust in his leadership. But a meeting last week held to soothe concerns of members of Church of the Resurrection showed he has work to do to restore trust.”
At a staged meeting where “Ruch and other leaders at Resurrection sat in armchairs in front of a packed church, according to church members who attended . . . Ruch read several statements, answered questions chosen from those submitted by congregants and read by church leaders. Ruch answered by reading from a script.”
“It gave me hope that the church realized that they needed to make some institutional programmatic changes or implementation and policies that would make it clear to everybody what their roles were when and if these kinds of crises hit,” one Resurrection member told RNS.
“But Ruch and other church leaders also appeared to want to manage the narrative about the bishop’s handling of the case and his return. Attendees were asked not to record the meeting, and clergy, accompanied by two police officers, were stationed at the sanctuary entrance. Audrey Luhmann, who stopped attending Resurrection in person over her concerns about church culture and who has been an outspoken member of ACNAtoo, an anti-abuse advocacy group, was barred from entering the meeting. ACNAtoo also reported that another clergy staffer tried to compel an alleged abuse victim’s mother to leave the meeting.” (Emphasis mine.)
A September 30, 2022 article by Kathryn Post on the Roys Report:
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From a June 9, 2023 article by Kathryn Post on Church Leaders website:
“Archbishop Foley Beach, the primate of the Anglican Church in North America, accused his denomination’s highest court of attempting to stop an investigation into an Illinois bishop’s alleged misconduct.
“According to a statement Beach issued Wednesday (June 7), Bishop Stewart Ruch of the Upper Midwest Diocese made a “secret appeal” earlier this year to ACNA’s seven-member Provincial Tribunal to call off the investigation. After the tribunal issued a stay order, Beach and other denominational leaders questioned the impartiality of four tribunal members. He also asserted that the denomination’s bylaws don’t give the tribunal authority to issue a stay order.
“This power struggle, which had been conducted behind closed doors for months, broke into the open Wednesday with Beach’s Sept. 7, 2022 “Update on the Diocese of the Upper Midwest.””
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August 15, 2023, an article by Kathryn Post on BishopAccountability.Org:
A 10-person board of inquiry found there was probable cause to present Ruch for trial for violating denominational bylaws.
“Bishop Stewart Ruch, a controversial figure in the Anglican Church in North America, will be brought to a church court trial, according to an announcement published to the denomination’s website on Tuesday afternoon
On July 10, a 10-person board of inquiry selected by the denomination’s leader, Archbishop Foley Beach, received a presentment (or list of charges) against Ruch. The board submitted a public declaration on Friday that said at least two-thirds of the board found there was probable cause to present Ruch for trial. Specifically, per the denomination’s bylaws, they found grounds to try Ruch for violation of his ordination vows, for “conduct giving just cause for scandal or offense, including the abuse of ecclesiastical power” and for “disobedience, or willful contravention” of the denominational or diocesan bylaws.” (Emphasis mine.)
An Update Regarding Allegations Against Bishop Ruch – The Anglican Church in North America
Public Declaration from Board of Inquiry – The Anglican Church in North America
I will update this post as more information becomes available.
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There’s more to the story . . . ACNAtoo
Per Wikipedia: “ACNAtoo formed in June 2021 when Joanna Rudenborg took to Twitter and alleged that she had been raped twice by ACNA catechist Mark Rivera and decried the subsequent mishandling of multiple survivors’ allegations by leadership in the Diocese of the Upper Midwest.”
Survivor stories and statements – firsthand accounts written by survivors of abuse in ACNA contexts:
Abuse survivor and advocate Joanna Laurel shares her story of sexual abuse and subsequent mishandling by the Upper Midwest Diocese of the ACN
Part 1: Joanna’s Story — ACNAtoo
Rand York — Survivor Stories | Upper Midwest — ACNAtoo
“Ursa” alleges that Christopher Lapeyre abused his power as a teacher and mentor to groom her while she was a minor and enter a manipulative sexual relationship with her when she was a very young adult.
Chris Lapeyre — Survivor Stories | Upper Midwest — ACNAtoo
Report abuse:
To local family services
To police, who will direct you to help
Julie Roys | Reporting the Truth. Restoring the Church.
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My Thoughts
As mentioned above, I had personal connections with Stewart and Kathryn Ruch, Eirik Olsen, and Randy York while attending Church of the Resurrection during its GWHS days. I was in a small group with Eirik and Randy and their wives. Wheaton College grads, Stewart and Eirik and Randy and their wives, Jeannie and Kaye respectively, are especially close.
I’ll start by saying that I knew each of them to be decent people who expressed love for the Lord.
The following two statements, which I find reliable, are based on Stewart Ruch – Wikipedia:
-It is said that after a spiritual crisis, Ruch returned fully to the Christian faith in September 1991.
-Stewart had been the rector of the Church of the Resurrection since 1999 and later consecrated as the first bishop of the Diocese of the Upper Midwest on 28 September 2013.
I knew Stewart to be a high-spirited guy whose heart, as he said from the platform, was for evangelism. He came across to me as someone who could spur excited devotion but also as someone all over the place. So, I was surprised that a young inexperienced guy who was known to have panic attacks was made rector of “Rez” and doubly surprised when he was made a bishop.
Though a decent guy who loves the Lord, Stewart was in no wise of the caliber needed for those positions. Stewart, in my estimation, was not a spiritually mature candidate for either position. His becoming pastor was one of the main reasons I left “Rez”. Another was that there was a “Leanne Payne” contingent that concertedly wanted Stewart in those positions. (More about my Leanne Payne experience in a future post.)
As revelations of the mishandling of sexual abuse under Ruch’s oversight became known to me, I was confirmed in my assessment of Stewart.
Eirik Olsen and Randy York are working priests and leaders in Ruch’s diocese. I know them as very capable in the business world. They both operate in a corporate milieu that does not tolerate sexual misconduct. HR depts rush in to handle allegations. So, I was surprised to find that they were slow to act in these matters.
I understand the scriptural criteria for accusations in a church setting. I also understand that sexual abuse and the grooming that precedes it happen in private. Allegations of abuse turn into “he said she said” scenarios. Two or three witnesses are not around to corroborate allegations. In matters of alleged abuse, a wait-and-see-what happens attitude, as reported above, leads to more abuse.
If there is any question, you separate out the alleged perpetrator immediately and provide counseling for the alleged victim. You don’t make excuses for the alleged perpetrator. Blind allowance is not an act of grace. You work to uncover, not coverup, what is taking place. In general, when someone is reluctant to press an issue, are they compromised by similar issues?
Do the proper work of a shepherd as you look after God’s flock which has been entrusted to you.
From the accounts presented above – remember Mark Rivera was found guilty of sexual abuse and sentenced to 15 years – one does not let more chips fall where they may before acting. Act to sort out what is true from the posturing obfuscations.
And one does not hide behind a subjective defense of “spiritual attack” to fend off accountability. If Bishop Stewart can sense a “spiritual attack on himself and the church, why didn’t he (and Leanne Payne-discipled others) sense it around Mark Rivera and the abused in Big Rock?
Incompetence by all three men is my finding. And a lack of spiritual discernment on the part of all three men and the church that put them in those positions. Stewart must be removed from his position.
Putting well-liked good-natured people into positions of oversight is deceptively easy. If you want to test someone’s maturity before placing them upwards, place them under the direct oversight of someone spiritually mature and give them a responsibility for several years. If you don’t know what spiritual maturity is then learn, not from books, but from obedience to Christ in all things.
Do the proper work of a shepherd as you look after God’s flock which has been entrusted to you, not under compulsion, but gladly, as in God’s presence; not for shameful profit, but eagerly. 1 Peter 5: 2
If one member of the body suffers, all members suffer with it. 1 Cor. 12: 26
What Say You?
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Added 5-22-2024:
“On Monday, a group of ACNA clergy published an open letter expressing concern that there have not been public updates about a promised church trial for Ruch since November 2023. The letter pushes for regular updates on the trial’s progress and for information about why Ruch has not been inhibited, or limited in his duties, because of his alleged laxity in the past.”
Open Letter to ACNA Clergy – Google Docs
Also on that day …
An ACNA bishop, Todd Atkinson, tapped to assist during Bp. Stewart Ruch’s (short term) absence, was removed from ordained ministry after a church trial found he had engaged in inappropriate relationships with women and interactions with minors.
Anglican Bishop Deposed for Inappropriate Relationships Amid Calls for Transparency (julieroys.com)Atkinson Deposed From Ministry – The Anglican Church in North America
Added on 6-6-2025:
Cindy Wity 
Hi. I was reading your blog post, and found it very interesting.
You wrote: “More about my Leanne Payne experience in a future post.”
I did a search of your blog, but couldn’t really find anything about that. Did you ever have a chance to write about your experience with Payne?
Thanks for any info.
Sam,
Thank you for checking out my blog!
No, I haven’t written more regarding Leanne.
Briefly, my experience with Leanne’s ministry began when a Baptist minister in Wheaton, IL recommended attending one of her healing prayer seminars at Wheaton college’s Edman Chapel.
At that time, I was looking for spiritual help greater than a Sunday sermon to deal with what was going on in my soul. That search led me to the Anglican church “Rez,” the weekly Eucharist, and an interest in Leanne’s charismatic ministry.
Leanne was well-read in books that were never part of my Christian upbringing. That appealed to me. She had close ties to the Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton college. She quoted C.S. Lewis, Chesterton, Tolkien and other writers whose books are archived there. She quoted Josef Pieper. I read his works including The Four Cardinal Virtues and found his writing clarifying and perceptive.
I attended Leanne’s Healing Prayer Seminar one year and was on the prayer team another year. Many who attended the seminar wanted healing from sexual addiction and gender confusion. Many wanted the true self acknowledged and called forward.
I have nothing bad to say about my experience with Leanne Payne or her ministry. Many were helped by the ministry. The issues involving me with Leanne are personal and read by family members, so, I’ve held back. Some of issues I put into short stories.
Here’s an excellent interview of Leanne that covers a lot of ground about her and her thoughts about healing:
https://www.godreports.com/2020/07/a-conversation-with-leanne-payne-pioneer-in-healing-prayer-movement/
“Thank you for checking out my blog!”
No problem, Rising Window. 🙂 And thank you for your response.
I know of several people who have had negative experiences with Payne, whom one member of Rez described as having a “big ego,” and whom some others described as being “unhealthy.” Another person described her (and other members of the healing ministry at Rez) as being power-hungry, saying that she had to spend several years healing from their so-called healing ministry. Here’s a very revealing (and sad) story about Payne (in three parts):
http://web.archive.org/web/20120810001757/http://www.danjbrennan.com/2007/02/a_sad_story_whe.html
“The issues involving me with Leanne are personal and read by family members, so, I’ve held back. Some of issues I put into short stories.”
Well, from what you wrote, it sounds like most of your interactions with Payne were positive at least, so that’s good to hear. It’s also good you were able to put some of your experiences in short stories.
https://www.godreports.com/2020/07/a-conversation-with-leanne-payne-pioneer-in-healing-prayer-movement/
Yes, I first saw that interview many years ago—definitely interesting.
Sam,
Regarding negative experiences and “a big ego” – to be sure, many coming to Leanne’s PCMs (Pastoral Care Ministries) and who also attended Rez had a variety of psychological, emotional, and spiritual issues going on. Perspectives were already skewed.
And with counseling/psychological terms being used during the healing prayer sessions, it seemed that projection and transference were in the air.
Regarding the split being a “sad story,” I was around during that Healing Prayer conference in the 90s and learned about Leanne’s decision to not involve Mario in the ministry. I wondered about the reason but took it in stride. I never let either of them have an inordinate impact on my life or faith.
In fact, at that time in my life, I realized that what my soul was hungering for was the Eucharist and more than any healing prayer ministry. I came from a Baptist/Bible church background. I attended Rez, an Anglican church, to receive the Eucharist weekly. I continue to attend an Anglican church.
At the time of all of this, I lived a few blocks away from Mario and his wife Nancy. Our two young sons played together.
I was aware that Leanne, Mario and two or three others would meet regularly and pray in the spirit at Leanne’s home. Maybe something was revealed during that time. I don’t know.
I do know from his talks and books that Mario struggled with homosexuality his whole life. Even after he started Redeemed Lives, he fell into sin again. I don’t know if that ministry is still operating or if he is still involved.
The split from a different perspective: I am reminded of Paul’s split with Barnabas (and Mark), as recorded in Acts 15:36-41. Each had their reasons, and each went their own way.
I was also around for Leanne’s split with Rez and its rector and now bishop Stewart Ruch. As I wrote in Victims of Vestment Veneer | Cindy Wity, Ruch made public what Leanne had said in a confessional way to him. Ruch breached the seal of Payne’s confession from the pulpit. And worse.
Bishop Stewart Ruch had attended and participated in Leanne’s PCMs. He should have known better than to trust “men with histories of violence and sexual misconduct into his diocese.”
A bishop’s secret church trial and the U.S. Anglican Church in turmoil
Hi, Rising Window,
I came back a few days after posting my last comment, but my comment was nowhere to be seen, so I didn’t know what happened. So, I decided to try again. 😏
Thank you for your interesting perspectives.
“Regarding negative experiences and a ‘big ego’ – to be sure, many coming to Leanne’s PCMs (Pastoral Care Ministries) and who also attended Rez had a variety of psychological, emotional, and spiritual issues going on. Perspectives were already skewed.
And with counseling/psychological terms being used during the healing prayer sessions, it seemed that projection and transference were in the air.”
There’s probably merit to what you’re saying, but at the same time, it’s too easy to brush off all these criticisms of PCM as “personal issues” or “projections.” It seems to me that PCM really did deserve a lot of these criticisms. Besides, I think the fact that Payne wrote an autobiography speaks volumes—people with small egos don’t do that. And the Bible warns very sternly about self-exaltation.
In fact, I know someone personally who attended a PCM many years ago. She was struggling with bulimia, and one of Payne’s associates (Lynne Berendsen) encouraged her to come (over a thousand miles) to a PCM for help. Turns out she got very little “help” from them. In fact, she only got about ten minutes of low-intensity prayer at the very end of the conference. I asked her if that prayer had helped her, and she said, “If it did, I didn’t know it.” It seems that “come to a PCM” (at least in her case) was simply code for: “We’re just looking for a warm body to fill up a conference seat.” 🤢 Instead, they should’ve just told her that she was unlikely to find help for bulimia at a PCM, and encouraged her to pursue other avenues instead.
“Regarding the split being a ‘sad story,’ I was around during that Healing Prayer conference in the 90s and learned about Leanne’s decision to not involve Mario in the ministry. I wondered about the reason but took it in stride. I never let either of them have an inordinate impact on my life or faith.”
The thing is, there’s a mature, Christian way to end friendships—and also many immature, carnal ways. To just “ghost” someone and then stay silent about the reason at the conferences—well, that smells of deceit and coverup to me.
“In fact, at that time in my life, I realized that what my soul was hungering for was the Eucharist and more than any healing prayer ministry. I came from a Baptist/Bible church background. I attended Rez, an Anglican church, to receive the Eucharist weekly. I continue to attend an Anglican church.”
Glad to hear that you discovered what your soul was hungering for. 🙂
“At the time of all of this, I lived a few blocks away from Mario and his wife Nancy. Our two young sons played together.”
Interesting—that’s sweet. I guess you know that they divorced about 10 years ago then.
“I do know from his talks and books that Mario struggled with homosexuality his whole life. Even after he started Redeemed Lives, he fell into sin again.”
I think that (his fall) was shortly before his divorce, but he said that Nancy was planning to divorce him even before that. Apparently he was having serious post-traumatic stress issues, and then when he found out she was planning to divorce him, he kind of went “nuts.” Then, according to him, he had a single sexual encounter with a man.
It seems to me that Bergner did experience a lot of healing, but still had many struggles, as a lot of ex-homosexuals do. In fact, over a decade into his marriage, apparently he still had a lock on his computer (monitored by his wife) to keep him from looking at male pornographic images.
“I don’t know if that ministry is still operating or if he is still involved.”
I think it’s still operating in theory, but the Website hasn’t been updated since 2015. But in reality, I heard that after his sexual fall, people stopped donating to the ministry. He was also asked by the trustees to step down for a year. Now, I didn’t know Bergner (or his wife) or Payne personally—this is just stuff I’ve read.
“The split from a different perspective: I am reminded of Paul’s split with Barnabas (and Mark), as recorded in Acts 15:36-41. Each had their reasons, and each went their own way.”
True, but they eventually reconciled. In fact, later on Paul even found Mark to be an asset to his ministry! As far as I know, Payne never reconciled with Bergner. In fact, she even removed his book from her list of recommended readings on the PCM Website and never put it back.
From the details that Dan Brennan wrote, it seems that Payne “ghosted” her church. And that’s a lot like leaving a job in a huff without giving two weeks’ notice. Even worse, apparently she took several others with her, including Valerie McIntyre. In her book “Sheep in Wolves’ Clothing,” McIntyre writes about this kind of thing: “More important, however, is rescuing the entire flock from danger through lovingly excommunicating the factious one. Sadly, when pastors wait too long to take this action the unrepentant person may not only leave of her own volition, but take others with her.” McIntyre even left, I believe, before her time on the vestry was up!
“I was also around for Leanne’s split with Rez and its rector and now bishop Stewart Ruch. As I wrote in Victims of Vestment Veneer | Cindy Wity, Ruch made public what Leanne had said in a confessional way to him. Ruch breached the seal of Payne’s confession from the pulpit. And worse.
Bishop Stewart Ruch had attended and participated in Leanne’s PCMs. He should have known better than to trust men with histories of violence and sexual misconduct into his diocese.”
I had actually never heard of Ruch before, but it sounds like he should’ve never been put into a leadership position like that. Breaching the seal of the confessional is terrible, and also naively trusting men with checkered histories is incredibly foolish. That makes it even stranger that, as you wrote, there was a “‘Leanne Payne’ contingent that concertedly wanted Stewart in those positions.” 🤔 I hope they wake up and finally dismiss him from leadership.
Anyway, this has been an interesting discussion. I’m glad that you got what you felt you needed from Payne’s ministry, but then moved on to things that were more suited to you.
Oh, just a few more thoughts I wanted to post:
Sam,
As I have said, I never had any qualms about Leanne. I took her at face value. She never hid her background or her brokenness as so many Christians do.
Payne’s ministry was never about needing to fill a room. So, it is unfair to smear her ministry – her desire to help others – as just another corporate ministry entity that needs to survive. I’ve seen an inordinate need to scrutinize and judge her ministry, especially by men in ministry and in the Christian press, as if to stoke their Biblical authority.
It should be obvious that the woman with an eating disorder made a decision. She had made many decisions before coming to a PCM. The fact that she felt that she wasn’t helped is not Leanne’s or the ministry’s fault.
As I said, people attended with issues and left with issues – just like those who attend church with issues and leave with issues; just like those who go to a counselor with issues and leave with issues; just like those with issues who condemn her ministry while compartmentalizing and masking their own behavior.
And, if a stellar past is required to serve God, then Moses, David, Paul, and many others would not be used by God, and redemption is a farce.
I suppose that the PCM meetings could be seen as AA meetings where the wounded, broken, and addicted come together to get help, to be with others who have similar issues, and to find the courage to change. Churches with hard-core Sola Scriptura preaching don’t address what Leanne addressed with her healing prayer ministry.
Her ministry has a board of directors. She was accountable to them.
https://ministriesofpastoralcare.com/about-us/mpc-team/
One director is a woman with PhD in Clinical Psychology and a licensed psychologist and another has a B.A. in Psychology from Bradley University and M.A. in Counseling from Lincoln Christian University, who is also a Licensed Professional Counselor, certified through the International Institute of Trauma and Addiction Professionals, specializing in treatment for sex addiction, partner betrayal, adult children of alcoholics, and complex trauma.
I think this was Leanne’s perspective, as it is mine after seventy-some years: when we ask, we are given wisdom and discernment so that we know how to pray in the Spirit for others – that God rain down His redeeming grace on them and work all things for their good – instead of raining down our judgement on them.
Hi, Rising Window,
Thank you for your response.
“As I have said, I never had any qualms about Leanne. I took her at face value. She never hid her background or her brokenness as so many Christians do.”
Well, it seems that she *did* hide a whole lot about what went down between her and Mario Bergner.
“Payne’s ministry was never about needing to fill a room. So, it is unfair to smear her ministry – her desire to help others – as just another corporate ministry entity that needs to survive.”
First of all, criticism of a ministry—even pointed criticism—is not the same thing as “smearing” it. No ministry is above criticism.
I guess we could also say the same thing about Stewart Ruch. Did he not have a great “desire to help others”? Probably. But that doesn’t mean that his misbehavior was in any way acceptable.
“I’ve seen an inordinate need to scrutinize and judge her ministry, especially by men in ministry and in the Christian press, as if to stoke their Biblical authority.”
Please let’s not make this a gender thing—for instance, there is no reason to believe that Dan Brennan’s detailed account about Payne is sexist in any way. Besides, as Christians, we need not fear criticism at all if we know our behavior is beyond reproach.
“It should be obvious that the woman with an eating disorder made a decision.”
Yes, based on very misleading information about what kind of help she could receive at a PCM.
“She had made many decisions before coming to a PCM. The fact that she felt that she wasn’t helped is not Leanne’s or the ministry’s fault.”
I disagree. She hardly got any prayer at all—in fact, the “prayer” she received almost seemed like an afterthought. If you promise something that you don’t deliver on, that’s called false advertising.
“And, if a stellar past is required to serve God, then Moses, David, Paul, and many others would not be used by God, and redemption is a farce.”
Well, there’s a big difference between serving God and being a leader. In the New Testament, James says that not many should become leaders, because they will be judged more strictly. We also have very high requirements for leadership positions, such as those given in 1 Timothy 3:2. Being divorced three times? Well, I don’t think a person with a history like that meets any New Testament standards to be a “minister.”
“Churches with hard-core Sola Scriptura preaching don’t address what Leanne addressed with her healing prayer ministry.”
That’s true—I’m not one of these hard-core Sola Scriptura types.
“Her ministry has a board of directors. She was accountable to them.
https://ministriesofpastoralcare.com/about-us/mpc-team/“
Thanks for the info. But this looks like the current team—I don’t know if it had the same makeup before 2015.
“I think this was Leanne’s perspective, as it is mine after seventy-some years: when we ask, we are given wisdom and discernment so that we know how to pray in the Spirit for others – that God rain down His redeeming grace on them and work all things for their good – instead of raining down our judgement on them.”
The Bible says to test all things—and also to judge righteous judgment. No ministry is above criticism, and sadly, Payne’s had some very bad fruit associated with it. Just because you may disagree with some of the opinions others had of Payne and her ministry doesn’t invalidate them. You are certainly entitled to your opinions about Payne, and so are they.
Sam,
I stand by what I said and even more so based on your reply. As “no ministry is above criticism” so no criticism is above criticism.
At the end of your reply you used “entitled.” That pretty much sums up your justification of any criticism allowed to smear Leanne Payne’s Pastoral Care Ministry.”
You base your supposed “testing and righteous judgment” on two examples. Both were opinions based on expectations considered not fulfilled.
But let’s start here:
You want to justify criticism of Leanne and her ministry? Go ahead and show me the “very misleading information” given to the girl with an eating disorder along with the first hand PCM written guarantee given to her and to anyone who attended the PCMs. I’m asking for written guarantees and not speculations about what she thought should happen.
I paid my money like everyone else who attended a PCM and I never received a guarantee in any form from Leanne’s ministry for so many prayers per trip or session or to be healed, nor did anyone I know. There was no “false advertising.” Anyone presuming a certain outcome and their projections don’t pan out will likely cry “victim.” (Remember, we live in a culture where are told to see everything thing through a lens of the victim/oppressor narrative.)
Note: Anyone attending a PCM had to make themselves available for prayer. Prayer counselors stood all around the auditorium each session. (But, of course, you wouldn’t know that. You don’t have complete firsthand knowledge of what took place.)
“Well, it seems that she *did* hide a whole lot about what went down between her and Mario Bergner.”
You want to justify criticism of Leanne and Mario not talking what happened when Leanne no longer associated with Mario? Show me how you tracked down Mario and asked him what happened. Did Mario say or write anything about it? Were you and another hoping for some salacious misbehavior that needed to be uncovered? It sure seems so.
I already wrote what I thought happened between Leanne and Mario. Neither of them, it appears, wanted to wanted to talk about it publicly because what was said in private was no one’s business, not even for the “entitled.” That someone should assume the break up and its ‘untold story’ was a threat to how Christianity ‘works’ is speculative nonsense.
“I guess we could also say the same thing about Stewart Ruch. Did he not have a great “desire to help others”? Probably. But that doesn’t mean that his misbehavior was in any way acceptable.”
Are you suggesting (and smearing) Leanne with misbehavior? Stewart Ruch, a bishop, didn’t act when he should have ended sexual abuse in his parish. How does that relate to Leanne? By her and her team not praying enough for someone because someone thought they were entitled to more? Don’t conflate the two.
“as Christians, we need not fear criticism at all if we know our behavior is beyond reproach.”
Are you again insinuating (and smearing) Leanne with behavior not beyond reproach. Prove it. And not with speculation.
As mentioned, I took Leanne at face value and not as some high and mighty church leader or “minister.” You’d be happy to know that she stayed in her lane.
Again, Jacob the liar and swindler, Moses the murderer, David the adulterer and murderer, Solomon the man with thousands of wives, and the apostle Paul the approving witness to Stephen’s stoning served God’s purposes and were leaders. (They weren’t women, so maybe that’s where the sexism comes in.)
Scripture (the whole of it) reveals that God used messed up people to serve Him as leaders. The above and many others didn’t meet your B&W New Testament Standards which leaves out redemption as good enough for second chances. Paul thought differently with the thieving runaway slave Onesimus who would later find Christ and minister to Paul in his imprisonment.
You say that Leanne Payne “had some very bad fruit associated with” her ministry, again smearing her based on two “entitled” opinions – one where a girl with an eating disorder felt entitled to a certain number of prayers and to a certain healing and the other, a guy with a speculative account about Leanne and Mario parting ways, who felt entitled to know what went on “behind the scenes, as if something unholy had happened.
My own first-hand account tells me that you are not entitled to test or judge Leanne’s work based on insufficient knowledge.
You do seem set on finding fault and that I submit, is hardcore Sola Scriptura in action.